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Learn about information on jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry

There are thousands of people that work in or around the offshore oil and gas industry every year. Professionals who work on the rigs include maintenance technicians, scientists, cooks and other support staff, along with those tasked with keep the rig running on a daily basis.

I recommend: Offshore Oil Marine offers many job listings for the oil and natural gas industry. Offshore Oil & Gas Future Development has a blog that can give those interested in a career working on offshore rigs the information they need to make that career move.

Explore the latest information on offshore technology

Offshore drilling is an industry that is quickly creating better technology to produce oil and gas faster, but also to minimize the impact of offshore drilling on the environment. Many great technological advances are in the works, including better ways to clean up oil spills and new ways to prevent oil from spilling in the first place.

I recommend: Offshore Technology provides information on the latest technology in all aspects of offshore oil, from trenching and drilling to well completion. Another source to find out about the latest in offshore drilling is the annual Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas.

Know the finances of offshore production

Money is always a factor when it comes to building new and better forms of technology, or improving upon existing technology. But profits and price tags are just one set of numbers for this industry. Those looking into offshore drilling should also pay attention to what areas have an abundance of oil, how many tons a rig can produce in a day, and how long it takes to build a new offshore oil platform.

I recommend: Rig Zone provides national and international headlines on the financial and investment side of offshore drilling for those who want to look at the raw numbers. The Energy Information Association is another comprehensive source for vital statistics on U.S. oil and natural gas production.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Reading up on oil and gas information basics can help you weigh the environmental and economic impact of expanding this industry. Because the extent of offshore drilling is dependent on U.S. energy policy, you would be wise to keep up with changes in government regulation.

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Compare offshore oil and gas companies offering investment opportunities

Read up on advice given in books and online by investors and financial advisers who have found success in the offshore oil and gas industry.

I recommend: Order a free investor kit from U.S. Energy Resources. American Oil & Gas offers a free consultation on investments.

Make an initial investment with an offshore oil and gas company

Big oil companies have a structured investment process that makes it easier for individuals to start up investments without confusion. Working with an established process allows you to familiarize yourself with information about offshore oil and gain experience in investing.

I recommend: BP's Direct Access Plan, designed for American and Canadian investors, offers free enrollment, doesn't require a broker and allows you to increase your ownership of BP ADS by automatically reinvesting your dividends. Superior Offshore International offers individual investment plans and a "Shareholder Briefcase" with information on investor relations.

Look for new offshore exploration and offshore oil drilling projects

Already established offshore oil drilling projects guarantee a return, but with experience and careful research, you can strike a better return by investing in companies that find new oil sources and drilling locations for offshore oil platforms. A fresh find with fewer investors will pay out a much higher return than a saturated market.

I recommend: Research information about offshore oil acquisition companies like Foothills Resources, which also maintains established oil wells in the US from California to Oklahoma. Get a stock quote from Blue Dolphin Energy, established in the Gulf of Mexico.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Other types of businesses related to the offshore oil and gas industry that experts also consider profitable investments include offshore oil rig manufacturers, creators of offshore technology advances, equipment suppliers and construction companies that build the offshore oil rigs.

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Get sound advice about offshore oil rigs from a career-oriented website

Websites offering career advice from human resource professionals are reliable sources of information about offshore oil employment.

I recommend: Oil Career.com explains what you can expect from an offshore oil drilling job, the nature of the industry as well as the plusses and minuses of the job. Oil Rig Jobs gives you an idea of what kinds of projects the major offshore oil drilling companies are involved in worldwide. Articles on Oil Gas Information explain the rigorous physical requirements and the personal sacrifices employees of offshore oil companies must make.

Go to a drilling school that an offshore oil and gas company considers reputable

Here you'll get formal training from professional oil drillers. You'll also learn the latest in offshore technology that is certain to be an impressive addition to your resume.

I recommend: Spain's Malaga Drilling School is one of the most respected learning institutions in the world when it comes to learning offshore technology. For more than 30 years, students of the North American-based Maritime Drilling Schools have successfully sought careers in offshore gas and oil companies. Read the course catalog on the Drilling Fluids Engineering Tech website to get a sense for the class work required for a degree in offshore oil drilling.

Take online training courses and seminars in offshore oil platforms

Prominent positions within the oil gas drilling offshore field require candidates to complete formal class work. Some suggest that employees continue their education through seminars presenting the latest in this ever-changing field.

I recommend: Petroleum Institute for Continuing Education offers the largest selection of online training programs. Training-classes.com offers introductory classes in offshore drilling geared especially for geological engineers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Candidates for positions on offshore oil rigs should expect to undergo rigorous physical examinations, including x-rays and drug-tests, as conditions of employment.

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Rig reports

Rig reports provide detailed information on the top managers and operators of rigs around the world. Statistics in rig reports include how many rigs belong to the fleet and the percentage of the rigs that are used for production.

I recommend: Rigzone provides rig reports based on operator, manager, region, and rig type.

Regional reports

Regional reports are oil and gas reports that compile supply, demand and current production trends based on geographic location.

I recommend: Offshore Magazine provides links to regional reports for offshore oil production.

Offshore Energy and Minerals Management (OEMM)

Offshore Energy and Minerals Management is a department through the Minerals Management service that provides information on leasing of acres on the Outer Continental Shelf and other offshore sites.

I recommend: Information on offshore oil and gas leasing can be found through the Offshore Energy and Minerals Management department of the Minerals Management Service.

New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX)

The New York Mercantile Exchange is the market where oil and natural gas commodities are traded. Prices are based on futures trading.

I recommend: The NYMEX provides more insight into the trading of crude oil and natural gas.

Energy Information Administration (EIA)

The Energy Information Administration is an office of the federal government that provides statistics for energy products including oil, gas, coal and a number of alternative fuels.

I recommend: Statistics for all aspects of crude oil and refined oil products can be found through the Energy Information Administration.

National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

The National Association of State Energy Officials is a non-profit organization made up of energy officials from the 50 states.

I recommend: The National Association of State Energy Officials is a source of oil and gas information such as refining, supply and price statistics.